Coin-controlled apparatus.



J. L. SIMMONS.

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, wow.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. L. SIMMONS.

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1907.

uwufor- 4 SHEETS-SUBS l 2.

Patented Dec. 15. 1908.

1% ha eases L. SIMMONS.

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS. APYLIIOATION FILED NOV. 13, 1007.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908,

4 SHEFTSSHEET 3 wit neoago J. L. SIMMONS.

00m CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.13,1907. 906,571 Patented Dec. 15, 1908 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I a P Zlnvcnloz SQLMMMAM Cutout,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES LEE SIMMONS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRLCET OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF JUNE-HA Ll? TO A AQBIRNEY AND ONE-HALF TO A. If. SCEIPYERT, BOTH OF WASHINGTON, DIS'IRFUJ.

OF COLUMBIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

No. ocean.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

application filed Flovember 13, 1907. Serial No. 402,011.

' T all whom it may concern:

. full, clear, an exact description of the invention, such as will enable others, skilled in the art to which it appertuins to make and use the same.

My invention relates to check controlled means for automatically actuating articledelivery mechanism; to the combination of such means and delivery mechanism in a vending machine; and to certain features of construction and arrangement of parts whereby the elements aforesaid cooperate to deliver articles or packages of merchaw disc upon the deposit of a check or coin of the pro etsire we denomination.

ore particularly stated, "the invention comprises in a vending machine, suitable means. for introducing a coin of proper denomination, a combined coin-driving and fraud-preventing element of the turning or oscillatory type, a coin-driven element oi the some type, and an article delivery-device or devices so combined and arranged that a coin of the pro .1 denomination will serve as a connector bletween said driving and driven elements to render the said delivery device or devices operative.

The objects of my invention ure those common to coin controlled vending machines in general, but in addition it is my obiec't to accomplish such results in a more oils of inr :ovcd

numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is :1 perspective view representing my invention in its entirety.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the machine case and contents. Fig. 3 is also it vertical section, through the coin-contl'ollcd and the urticle-delivery (lcviccs in normal osition. Fi 4 is u vertical section on the ins 44 of ig. 8, the instant before final delivery of the article and deposit of the coin.

I cient and practical manner then heretifon 1 Fig. 8, showing parts in normal position. Fig. 6 is also at vertical section through mo ing parts in normal position, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is n icrspective View of the coin-driving and from -prevencing ole mcnt. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation oft-he opera tive parts of my invention Wltl'LbEtSlCOf' the case removed and its sides in vertical section. Fig. 9 is a plan view of parts shown by Fig. 5 is u vertical section on the line 5-6 of 1* ig. 8, the right hand delivery devices orejector having been operated. horizontal section throu h the case-front on the zigzag lino l.()-10 of l ig. 11. Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section throu h the case-front and ad'accnt parts on t e line 11-11 Fig. 10. ig. J2 a fragmentary view showing in elevation the inner face of the coin receiving front-plate. Fig. 13 is also a fragmentary view, showing in eleva- 'tion the front lace of the coin receiving plate,

and u back plate to which it is connected. l4 and 15 are COI'I'BS onding detached views of the coin-driving (evioe in side elevation and a frcgmcntof the article-delilzery carriage in section, both fi urcs showing in section an improper checli, the former a. washer and the latter a thin disk.

Reference being lied to the drawings and numerals thereon, .1 indicates the vending machine case which in the present illustrations is represented as a rectangular structure having a transverse opening 2 at its base lined by a. transversely fitting curved guiding-plate 15 aflixed to the case-back as at 4 for assisting in the delivery of articles when properly ejected from the machine.

In the front of case 1 are openings properly guarded by transparent closures 5 for displaying the character of the oods in stock, and beneuth is a farce-plate 6 broken by coin receiving apertures 7 corresponding in size with a n-oper coin. In the present illustrations here are four such display openings and four coin rccciving apertures shown, but obviously the number is wholly within the discretion of the manufacturer. On the reverse or inner surface of said plate 6 its uperturcs 7 are ouch surrounded by an annular boss 8 having the lower half out own as at 9, and to the said face plate 6 is detac ably secured as by screws 10 u back-plate 11 having forwardly projecting ribs 12 which latter bear against and oflsct the plate 6 as best shown by Fig. 10. Thus it is apparent that Fig. 10 is o aropcr circumference of e coin H I Ujllc the circumferential measure ertures end it rope/r iluckui s by the depth of tlre liiwe' cuteewey or reducc portion 9 of lie ennui-er bosses 8 normal position, however, said dogs are rendiiy thrown. beck to the position indicated in dotted lines on said Fig. 11 by the intro-- .ction o'r' a proper coin at all tiines except en they should be locked against such emoverncnt to -positively prevent tire ii reduction of acoin, that is to say, when the stock of goods to which particular dog belongs lies been'exheustcd at such times tlie dog is eutometicelly locked in iis forward or normal eosition in e marine i that Will hereinafter a-ppcer.

From the lower edge ol -feoe-plete 6, between some and. the inner singular edge of incl; plate 11 awtrensversely errenged in- W: irdly-extending guide-plate 15 having downwardly projecting individual branches 1? for directing proper coins to their oyere ti'vc positions, or in other words to positions where they are to serve connectors be r. een the dri u'ng and driven elements of the zipper-mus now to be described.

indicates a base-plate or The numeral 1. main support for the m ving Parts 9f the cc of recteiiguler structure, it is by p.

tly greater than form and of Width sligii. that of the machine 1 be; Ween its oppo' site sides, and these two sides are gained out or grooved liorizontelly as at 39 to receive end. support said liese plate in its oeemtive ,osition. To the rear of said liaise L8 is singed u forwardly curved money receptacle 2O lie-Ting upstanding em fingers .Zlivlrieir in ejecting the purchased articles or packages, as will appear in it description of opere 'tion to follow, While near the longitudinel center said base is provided with en inteupstanding nfll Cllelil dog or iziteli InCIIr leer 22, which, passing ilirougli a surface slot in said plate 18 is there engaged ElIlClllOI- melly retained by s spring latch 24. u tlie position indicated by Figs. 2, 5 undo. Neel its rear edge this 18 is further broken 1 y coin slots 25 interrnediete of the cam-like iners 21 stiioreseid, there being one slot 25 for set of coin controlled ectueting devices, present illustrations showing four. liisr'om oppo to ends of base 18 are integrol 6 n WlllCi'l ere supported a. rock-shaft 'l beneeili true a fuse. sneft the drixdng end driven devices remounted. These devices are err "its one for eecii of the zipertures 7 into Wl1lCl1i1l1 i'zontroliing coins are originally introduced. and such sets of devices are counterparts one of the other, arranged and adapted to be ogereted simultaneously or dissiniultaneously eccoroiug. to the number of proper coins deposited.

Keyed upon one end of rock-shaft 27 just outside of lug 26 si segmental rack 29 above which upon on extension 30 oi said lug 26 is it small ravity pawl oi, as best shown by F ig. 5; While beneath one edge of the rack 29 is the wrist in 32 of e crank 33 secured to or forming pert of stub-elicit S i "projecting through and loosely journelcd in the side of the case 1, also it surface plate 35 eflixed iliereto, as shown by Fig. 8. To said stub shalt 3 iettsched in like manner on actuting lever 36 end the sweep of-the letter is mired in both directions by pins 3?? and 38 rejeczing from said plate At its oppoend the elicit 27 is surroundeddiy 8. re- 1111 spring 39 one end thereof being secured to said slioitend the other enclloreo upon its scent .ig 26, for the "purpose of returning the-shaft and corrcletive pa to ti eir norpiel positions indicated by Figs. 1, 2,3 end 5.

Mounted rigidl T upon the rock shaft 2-7, in direct elinement with the individual branch es 3.? of guide-plate 16, are the oscillatory coin dxi' elements 46, each having coin. s g port "4.1, a driving spur l2, and a. rd y extending segmental tail 43 centered upon salt left '27; While at p'ointson seid shaft into nedia-te of said eiements 4o eifixed manner, spu l4; the "cure "hereof are to return to normal positid ne coin driven" elements I new to he described. li'iountcd loosely upon the rizred'she-it 28. are the driven. elements of the structure ceclf comprising eifoscillatory carriage e5 formed of two corresponding sides which straddle tlie driving elements 46 eforeseid and are properly spaced upon theircommon shaft 28 by smell sections of tubing 46, While the top of cool). of said driven carriages is fitted with e flanged horizontal support 47 for the lower; most of a. stock of eckeges or boxes conteim ing the goods to be delivered. immediately forward of said horizontal supports 47' the sides oicz-trrieges 4:5 ro'joct upward a distance approximating tne depth of the boxes or articles in the stocks for delivery, and such projections 48 constitute the ejector-s; while projecting laterally from adjacent sides of the first and second, the third and fourth of said cerriagcs pinsAQ directly in the path of the spurs 4A aforesaid, by egency whereoff tlie carriages ereareturned to their normal position after each delivery. Forward of the ejectors 4-8 the sides oi carriages e5 present segmental edges at 50 centered upon shaft o; C -i W 2S moon 28, and baok'of said shaft each. e is fitted with a loosely journaled slide 51 a a tworking edge or surface ed to #be projected between its rticu ar pair of the hereinbefore mentione cam-fingers 21 with each oscillate movement of the carriage for purposes t t will be set forth in the description of operation to follow. Between the two sides church of the driven carriages 45 at points immediately beneath ejectors 48 there is a web 52 having a rounded upper edge, radially arranged with reference -'to its supporting shaft 28, and so spaced with reference to the driving member 40," that a proper coin when normally supported by the latter barely overlaps said upper rounded edge. Thus it will be-obsorved that normally disconnected driving and driven elements mounted upon diiferent centors are adapted to be operatively connected by .a proper coin, and to be turned or oscillated in' eccentric paths whereby-said elements are caused to radially approach and then recede from eachother'durin each deli'very oscillation, to automaticaly de osit the-coin in the money receptacle and t ereupon deliver a purchased article or package from the machine.

Sui-mounting the aforesaid coin controlled driving, driven, and delivery devices is a series of vertical stacks-53 one'for each set of said devices, which may be connected or disconnected and supported in the towering portion of case 1 in any approved manner, the present illustrations showing a series of four parallel connected stacks having'at two points downwardly projecting urcated feet 54 which straddle and are supportedby the main rock-shaft 27, as best shown by Fig. 6. VVIthm these stacks 52 are arranged the goods, articles or packages 55 to be sold, and

in each s ack above such packages is located a follower-'56 of rectangular form, one of which is snown in plan by Fig. 10 and one in section by Fig. 11, having aiorwardly projecting flange 57 adapted, when the stack is exhausted to im iingc upon the back of dogs 14 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 11 to close i-tscoina erture 7. And it will be noted that the oscilhatory driving member 'or element 4i) centered upon its supporting shaft 27, as shown in the present illustrations, is of substantially segmental form, that its coinsupport 41 is radially and its driving spur 42 cir uml'ercntially arranged, and 'that intermediate of said :oin-su )port and spur is a herein termed an ad- Vance surface, which is dcprcsscd with relation to the plane occupied by a proper coin initially, that is to say, when interposed bco0 tween the driving and driven elements as ininvention in its preferred form of construe-- dicated by Fig. 3.

The foregoing being a description of my tion the use and operation, briefly stated, is as follows:

A-proper coin having been introducedsidewise into one of the receiving apertures 7 traverses guide plate 16 and theparticular branch 17, to one ofthe driving members 4i) by whichitis received in the position ind cated by Fig. 3 of the drawings, where it 18 to serve as a connector between said driving and the driven elements-of the mechanism. A sweep of the actuating lever 86 now causes a-partial rotation of shaft 27 and with it all of the coin-carrying members 40, but obviously only those which have been operatively connected with the driven members or delivering devices, by interpostiton of the coin as aforesaid are eil'ective.

The web 52 which has been engaged by the" extreme upper portion of the coin'now serves as an abutment-and is advanced or oscillated upon shaft 28 as its-center-of rotation, taking with it all integral parts of the structure. Durin this movement it will be noted that the driving and the driven elements 40 and 45 res ectlvely, are moving eccentrically so that t to connecting coin in its passage from the position indicated by Fig. 3 to that indicated by Fig. 4, is first elevated, time taking a firmer hol upon the abutment 52, and then gradually depressed to the oint where the two eccentric paths cross, w ere it is thrown out and said parts are again disconnected.

During the movement last described the ejector 48 engaging the front edge of a box or article 55 serves to advance same from its original position, the balanced the column in stack 53 in the meantime being supported .said box 55 and crowd same over t 1e flanged end of its support 47, whereupon it is deposited upon the projected slide 51, and there remains until after the coin has been discharged through its slot 25 into the money receptacle 2i) beneath base 18.

The driven carriage 45 having served its purpose is now returned to its normal position by agency of. recoil spring 39, shaft 27,

spur 44, and one of the pins 49 iro'ecting from the side of said carriage, and, slide 51 being thus withdrawn, the box in question falls and is conducted to the front of the machine by agency of the curved guiding plate 3. 'lhus the process may be repeated until the last box of any stack has been withdrawn,

but when this occurs the follower 56 dcsccnding to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. ll, presents its llangc 57 to the back edge of dog 14 and locks same in its forward position to positively prevent the introduction of a coin after the stock has been exhausted.

The initial movement of the driving element 40 aforesaid, is effected by agency of a; ocean the wristpin 32 under control of lever 86,

said pin bearing upward beneath the rack 29.

(Fig. and, it will he observed, that once started a completion of the stroke is ren- 5 dered compulsory before there can be a retro grade movement, by the engagement of pawl 31 acting as a detent, thus rendering it impossible to repeat the delivery with a S111- gle coin. If, however, before the completion of a stroke or advance movement of the drivii'lg and driven elements, a second coim'is prematurely introduced, same is'arrested upon the guide-plate 16 by the ex-tended'tail l3 of the coin-carrying and driving element e0, and there retained until normal conditions are restored, whereupon, if a proper coin; it will gravitate into operative osition. If, however, the coin or check is improper the said driving member 40 serves as a fraud pre- 20 venting device as follows: If too small in diameter such coin fails to engage the abutment or weh 52; if of proper diameter but too .thinit 'settles further into the driving member it! as shown by Fig. 15; and if a Y Washer of proper diameter and size to enter the machine originally, it is im aled upon the driving spur is as shown y Fig. 14 whereitreclines upon the depressed advance of said driving member 40, and in each of the several examples cited .the spurious coin check onwashetr fails to engage the abutment 52 and consequently to interlock the driving and driven parts, but on the contrary is carv ried forward and deposited without results. When it is desired to em ty the money receptacle 20 this is speedi y and eliectually accomplished by merely unlocking and re moving the front of case 1, whereupon latch 24 may be withdrawn, thus allowing the bot- 40 tom of said receptacle to assume the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and delivering all coins into the transverse opening 2 at the bottom of case 1, at the same point where the purchased, goods are at other times 4.5 delivered. j i

This bein a description of my invention its p'referre' form of construction, use and operation, it should he understood that various structural changes and alterations can and-will he made without departing from the spirit of the invention, which will now be set forth in the following claims:

1 1. In a coin controlled apparatus having oscillatory driving and driven elements conistructed and arranged to be-operativoly connected by the inter osition of a proper coin,

means whereby sai elements are caused to radiall approach and then, recede from each other uring each deliver oscillation;

so 2 In a coin controlle apparatus having oscillatory driving and driven elements con- 'structed and arranged to be 0 'eratively con- 'nectedbvthe interposition o a proper coin,

, means whereby said elements movni upon dilierent centers are caused to radia y ap roach and then recede from each other durmg each deliveryoscillation.

3. in a coin controlled apparatus having oscillatory driving and driven elements cc structed and arranged to be operatively connected by the interposition of a proper coin,- independent pivotal su ports for said elements', and means where y said elements are caused to radially ap roach and recede from each other during eac 1 delivery oscillation.

. 4; In a coin controlled apparatus having oscillatory driving and driven elements constructed and arranged to be operatively connected b the interposition of a roper coin, inde endent shafts in fixed re ation upon '80. whic said elelnents are mounted, and means whereby said elements are caused to radially approach and recede from each other during each delivery oscillation.

5. In a coin controlled apparatus, oscillatory driving and driven elements, the former having a coin support, a driving spur, and an advance surface depressed with relation to the plane occupied by a proper coin initially. 1

6. In a coin controlled apparatus, oscillae tory driving and driven elements, the former having a coin support, a driving spur, and-an advance surface depressed with relation to the plane occupied by a proper coin when in operative position.

7. In a coin controlled apparatus, oscillatory driving and driven elements, the former having a coin support, a driving spur, and an advance surface depressed with relation to the plane-occupied by a proper coin when id terposed between said driving and driven ele ments.

in a coin controlled apparatus, oscillatory driving and driven elements, the former having a coin support, a circumferential drlving spur, and an advance surface de ressed with relation to the plane occupie by a proper coin initially. 9. In a coin controlled'apparatus, oscillatory driving and driven elements, the former 116 having a coin support, a driving spur, an ad- "vance surface depressed with relation to the plane occupied by a proper coin initially, and a trailing segmental ta r j 10. In a coin controlled apparatus, oscillatory driving and driven elements, the former having a coin support, a driving spur, an ad'- Vance surface depressed with relation to the plane occupied by a roperrcoin' initially, and a trailing spur, sai spur and tail centered 12( upon the axis of oscillation.

11. In a coin controlled apparatus, oscillatory driving and driven elements, the former having a coin support, a driving s ur adapted to engage a proper coin contra ly, and an 12. advance surface depressed with relation to the plane occupied by a proper coin initially.

12. In a coin controlled apparatus, oscilla- .tory driving and'driven elements, the former having a co1nsupport','a driving spur, andau l8.

ocean advance surface the latter interposed be- 13. In a coin controlled apparatus; osoillatory driving anddriven elements, the former having a radial coin support, a circumferential driving spur, and an advance surface the latter interposed between said su'pport and spur and depressed with relation to the plane occupied by a proper coin initially.

14. In a coin controlled apparatus, the combination With a driving element having a coin support and a driving spur, of a driven element torming an abutment, means for inter osing a proper coin between said spur and abutment, and means for oscillating said driving and driven elements whereby they are caused to radially approach and reccde from each other during each delivery oscillation.

15. In a coin controlled apparatus, having oscillatory driving and driven elements constructed and arranged to be operativcly connected b the interposition of a roper coin,

indeoen ent shafts in fixed re ation upon whic said elements are mounted, means wl'iereby said elements are caused to radially approach and rece'de from each other during ea ch delivery oscillation, a rack fixed with re lateen to said driving element, a pawl engaging-the rack to prevent Y remature retrograde movement of parts, and a spring for returning all arts to normal positions.

16. n a coin controlled apparatus, the combination with driving and ,driven elements, of means for operatively connecting said elements by the interposition of a proper coin com rising a coin receiving aperture, a yielding c og normally obstructing said aperture, and means for automatically locking said dog in its normal position wlien the supply oi vendable goods becomes exhausted.

17. In a coin controlled apparatus, the combination with driving and driven elements, oii means for operatiyely connecting said elements by the interposition of a proper coin said means comprising a coin receiving aperture, a yielding dog normally obstructing said. aperture, a suitable steel: for goods to be delivered, a follower for su h goods in the stack, and means whereby sari follower will engage the d 0g aforesaid to lock it in nor mal position when the supply of goods becomes exhausted.

in testimony whereof I ailix my signature,

in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JASv LEE sure/ions Witnesses G. P. Rrr'rnra, Tnones Durham. 

